OCR

THE TWIN VENTRILOQ UISTS. 35
were just in the station; the last man was passing the
door when right at his ears sounded a wild, unearthly
yell, followed by the cry of “Fire! fire! fire!” The man
stood like one paralyzed, then the sergeant rushed into
the street. Not a soul was near, and yet even while he
‘stood there again right at his ear sounded the weird cry,
' “Fire! fire! fire!” The man was dumfounded. He
stood and, gazed in wild dismay. The sergeant at the desk
came rushing forth, demanding:
“What‘s the matter? Where’s the fire? What are you
all standing here for?”
“Do you think there is a fire?”
“Didn’t you hear the cry?”
“Yes; didfyou ?”
“I did.”
“Then go find the fire. We’ve heard cries of fire all
the night, but devil a fire can we find.”
Jack and Ike had had fun enough in that one direction
and they started off toward Ike’s home. They had not
gone far, however, when they struck another little adven-
ture-a very peculiar one. Indeed, possessing their
singular talents they were continually running into
adventures, as their gifts gave them great powers in every
direction. A little girl had stopped a erahhi-d, sleek‘
looking old gentleman and had asked him for alms. The
man had said:
“Go to the station house,” and he spoke in cruel, hard
tones. The girl with a sigh tnrnml mvajr, aml l 1.-;e said:
“ Let’s give tlmt old skiiiliiiit a dose.”
“Agreed,” czuxio the re.epo1‘:so.
Ike ran f01‘wa1'-l and iil‘s)lL)E')(‘Ai 2l>TliVL’l‘ alnIl:i2' in :.I".n ;;ii'l’S
hand and then sfid :xi.m% and .‘i‘>i:mvl .l:;ii‘:. 'l’7:;.:: two
secured :ltlV:Ultal;)'C gi‘<)ui1='i, i'-in‘ the old l.fv3?'Li4.‘I'lliiT‘ had
stopped to gaze in the WlllllOW‘)’ of one ()1 the giwzit. hotel
restaurants. Suddenly there sounded in his ears: